The media is hotly discussing Rockets point guard signings: Two All-Stars can never be selected. White’s ideal candidate is Reeves.

On November 4, the journalist The Dream Shake discussed the Rockets’ point guard issue. The Rockets, who have won three consecutive games, do they still need to introduce a point guard? The following is the relevant analysis of the media -

Perhaps you will think that the Rockets do not need a point guard. Indeed, after playing 5 games, they topped the NBA with an offensive efficiency of 126.5. But don’t forget, this is only 5 games. Beating the Nets and Raptors was never the goal — the Rockets were pursuing a deeper playoff run.

Their 42.1% offensive rebound rate is also the first in the league. This should not be simply regarded as a "temporary remedy", but it may also become a "dependency" for the team. Last season, the Rockets relied on a steady stream of extra offensive possessions to make up for their weak half-court offense. This strategy is indeed interesting, but it is unlikely to reach the Western Conference Finals. Without a reliable ball-handler in the backcourt, the Rockets may be in trouble before they even get that far.

Of course, this does not mean that the team must introduce such players this year. They can definitely seize the opportunity to develop the ball-handling ability of Amen Thompson and Reed Shepard, and make these two more dynamic players when VanVleet returns next season. This plan is feasible, but it also has risks - Durant is like a time bomb: he may still be able to maintain his peak form in the 2025-26 season, but no one can say what will happen in the 2026-27 season.

Perhaps the safest choice is to focus on next season. Adding the high-profile guards mentioned in this article will likely require VanVleet to give up his implicit "trade veto". VanVleet's "spiritual value" in the locker room is crucial, and the team may be more willing to maintain player relationships rather than adopt cold and tough methods.

Let’s not talk about these for now. The conclusion is simple: if the Rockets really decide to introduce a point guard through trade this year, they must choose the right person.

Must not choose Morant and Trae Young

Ja Morant's willfulness is unquestionable, and he has an extreme lack of self-awareness. In the post-match interview not long ago, he even "passed the blame" in public, dragging his teammates and coaching staff into the water.

This situation happened frequently in his career. If his career three-point shooting percentage is not only 31.3%, and it is as low as 15.6% so far in the 2025-26 season, maybe the team can consider tolerating his character. But the Rockets should never take the risk of introducing such a fatal shortcoming.

Wait, someone mentioned Trae Young’s defense?

This candidate must also be resolutely eliminated. Trae Young is one of the worst defensive players in the NBA. Some people may think it doesn't matter, saying that the Rockets' lineup "can cover Trae Young's defensive shortcomings." But I'm not sure if this argument holds true, and even if it does, it makes no sense.

First of all, the original intention of the Rockets' lineup design is not to "cover players with poor defense"-their concept is to "dominate on the defensive end." The goal is to become a team with "top defense and mid-to-upper-level offense" rather than a mediocre team that "just takes care of both offense and defense."

Some people may say that this idea is too one-sided. After all, "net efficiency" is the key. This is true, but top teams all have their own "core traits," and the Rockets never want to turn their traits into "Trae Yang plus a bunch of defenders."

What's more, the Rockets may not have enough defensive resources to cover Trae Young. After VanVleet was injured and Dillon left the team, most of the team left were excellent "help defenders", but the "first line of defense" personnel reserves were somewhat weak. Amen Thompson can indeed defend multiple positions, but letting him focus on "single defense" will take him away from his best role of "creating key offensive opportunities." In the final analysis, the introduction of point guard is to solve the problem, but the introduction of Trae Young will only make the problem worse.

The same is true on the offensive end: the Rockets will not want to take the ball away from Shen Jing and give it to Trae Young. They don't need a "person-centered organizer", but a 3D guard who "can shoot three-pointers, defend, and can stably control the ball."

There are several guards the Rockets can target

Derrick White is the ideal candidate. When the Celtics are out of balance, as the main organizer, White's three-point efficiency has declined, but we all know that he can shoot, defend, and control the ball.

Speaking of the "old players" of the Celtics, how long can Jrue Holiday stay with the Trail Blazers? This situation deserves attention. His contract is indeed a bit "premium", and the Trail Blazers, who have never failed to do well, may have wanted to keep him. But if Scooter Henderson performs well after returning from injury, the Trail Blazers may reconsider their roster construction.

Have you seen Austin Reeves’ data in the 2025-26 season? He averaged 31.1 points and 9.3 assists per game, which is simply ridiculous. Of course, the sample size is still small and the data may be watery, but Reeves's strength is real-he can meet all the needs of the Rockets, but his upcoming contract negotiations may complicate things.

The above are well-known players who are "likely to win". In fact, some "unpopular candidates who are not noticed" may be more feasible. Kris Dunn would be a great choice. Dosunmu of the Bulls and Alvarado of the Pelicans are also worthy of consideration.

To some extent, the logic of "we need a point guard, so we bring in Trae Young" is as absurd as "there is a crack in the wall, so we tear down the house and rebuild it." The Rockets just need a guard who can "shoot, defend, and handle the ball."

If they can find such a player, maybe we can start discussing the possibility of the Rockets competing for an NBA championship.